Virtual Online
Worlds for Kids
(or at
least the young at heart)
My online chatting experience started with
the BBS’s back in the early 90’s, but I
really didn’t enjoy them as much as when I hit the internet and worked
for a company that gave me access to – then – Fujitsu’s WorldsAway. Man, that was
the best! It was a very colorful,
2D world with cartoonish type avatars.
It’s now VZones
Dreamscape or newHorizone. There’s nothing like it to date,
that I have been able to find.
Though, it’s not really for the kids, so getting off this
tangent…..
The best I’ve found for the kids:
AWOLNow Free trial period, then
a fee $9.99 USD to become a “citizen” or “noble” (?
Fee to rent a room). I can’t tell if fees are one time,
monthly or used for extras.
ActionJetz
Gathering Information
Adventure Rock or Tronji World Looks very
promising. Only
available to those using a
AllStarBuddies
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BarbieGirls MP3 player that can be plugged into
online site. Seems to be free for
30 days with a monthly membership fee after that. We don’t have it, so I can’t
say any more than that.
BeanieBabies20 From Ty. Buy Beanie Babies stuffed animals, get a
code. Use the code to go online and
play as your stuffed animal character.
Get a room, no decorating to date.
Fill in a sort of scrapbook.
Play games to win prizes like stickers for your scrapbook. Cute, but could be better. It’s new, so maybe…
Be-Bratz Don’t know about this one, as we
don’t own the doll/set.
Bella
Sara Gathering Information
BinWeevils
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BittyBay Habbo
Hotel –esque, but with animal avatars. To date there are only 2 room open to
the “free” public. Buy
some “bits” (bought with real money) to gain access to the
“Underground” – members only room. With bits you can also alter your
avatar. They say personal rooms are
coming with the next update.
We’ll see!
BoomBang Not necessarily for kids (didn’t
seem to be moderated during my visit), so be aware of the element. Very cute graphics, though.
BuildABearville Wonderful so far, though still a bit
limited. It has quite a few places
to visit and several games to play to build up coins for buying items to wear
or decorate your Cub Condo with.
Sign up today and don’t forget to get/save/find your Build A Bear
Workshop animal’s Birth Certificate.
Each certificate has an online code to enter at the site, so you can
register your animal buddy too!
Cackleberries
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CampFu Appears to be built on the premise of
being a flash game site with some chat and future interactive world. Very new with only 4 games to date. Able to minimally customize an avatar
and team up with other members to play games.
ChibiFriends Geared towards girls, but boys are
welcome too. Similar to Millsberry, but cuter.
Basic service is free but real money is needed for extras. Not updated any longer from what
I’ve read.
Chobots
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Club
Penguin Disney owned, now. Really cute. Very crowded. Free for a minimal account. Pay for much better upgrades.
CyWorld Must be at
least 13 to join. Meant for the
teen crowd, and it’s mostly just chatting.
Destiny
Online or as previously known as Legend
of Golden Plume or LGP If you’ve had any
experience with Hello Kitty Online, LGP has a very similar feel. Right now it is probably my third
favorite/most played MMO. 2D anime
characters run around performing MANY and varied quests – obtaining
items, Fed-Exing, slaying monsters, skill building,
training pets, etc. Appears to be
HUGE in the amount of worlds, monsters, levels and quests. All of this is very colorful and
cartoony.
DinoKids
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DizzyWood (You
can use Fish885 as the reference code.)
Cartoonish human characters on an adventure! You can chat with others using a monitored
or limited vocabulary. Change your
look. Send someone an emote of how
you’re feeling. Ride a
skateboard. Play a few games of
skill and chance. Explore. But the best part are the quests or
missions! I’ve been playing
for a few months now and have had plenty of quests to try to earn exclusive
items. Don’t forget to earn
enough coins and collect the correct items to get your very own pets! I’ve been told there is more to
come! Membership has now been
implemented, but you can still play via a free account.
Dofus
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Dubit Meant for UK teens, I haven’t
checked it out, but it looks promising.
Ekoloko
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Elf
Island Gathering Information
Emerald
Island A new GREEN MMO. In open beta. Interesting but slow. Has potential.
FairyLand another anime MMO similar to HKO or LGP. In beta and has potential. I wasn’t excited by the battle
system, as monsters aren’t visibly roaming the world and your character
is just thrown into a fight. Also,
it seemed difficult to get around, completing quests especially, when you
can’t remember who gave you which quest or even where to locate the party
in question.
Fantasy Age (or Fantage) Really cutesy, short, chubby characters. Appears to be a Maplestory
contender. Chat a little, play
games, wander around….
Free
Realms By Sony. In beta to
date, but videos and the basic, public website have me foaming at the mouth to
get an invite. Appears to be WoW-esque with a brighter and more colorful/cartoony
world. Characters are not saddled
with one class, rather having the ability to change their class/job at
will. The world looks huge with
quests to match. Very social type
network with fighting/combat tucked into it’s own area(s). F2P with subscription upgrade, I
believe.
Freggers
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Fresbo World Seems to be a Lego contender. Very new - build and construct
oriented.
FusionFall Cartoon Network’s contender to VMK
or Nictropolis. Seems to be a WoW
for kids. Pick up quests, upgrade
gear, shoot and kill monsters with a variety of guns (bloodshed seems to be
more of a green goo), chat and play games, all within a realm of Cartoon
Network characters.
GaiaOnline basic
membership is free, premium membership and certain items (cash shop) are only
available for paying customers.
GardenPartyWorld
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GirlStuffBoyStuff from Canada or Australia, not sure. Not heavily populated at all. Has potential, though.
GroovyGirls from
GoPets family oriented, but not just for
kids. It’s also
worldwide. Virtual pets, only dogs
& cats at this time, that you care for. Animated - unlike sites like neopets.
Accounts can be upgraded with real money. There is a coinciding video game for the
Nintendo DS, though I do not know much about the specifics.
Habbo not exactly for kids, but teens might do
ok. Human avatar with chatting
capabilities among other things.
Animated. Upgradable
accounts using real money. Similar
to Playdo.
Hangout Gathering Information
HelloKittyOnline
–There is finally (since 2004 or earlier) a tentative opening date of
Second Quarter 2009! There was a
“closed beta testing” to sign up for, which I was accepted and
tried it out. Then there was the
“Founders’ Beta testing”, with a Christmas and also a
Valentines Day special quest series.
The closed beta game was excellent with quests galore, especially
designed to teach basics and draw you into the game, a limited world that
appears will be large when completed, terrific graphics and superb GM’s
or helpers. Additionally, HKO is
pro-active in real world community/charity work, building causes into online
quests. Can’t wait for this
one!
IKnowThat great educational virtual site. Play as one of many bees part of a
hive. Earn points while you
learn. Use points to upgrade your
bee avatar and your cell/room.
Would pair up wonderfully with VFK.
Really cute!
JellyBeanies The plushes can be bought at the
company’s website, etoys/kbtoys, amazon or ebay store. Was advertised on TV with a phone
number. Each plush animal, 8 of
them to date, is basically a solid color with a sweet scent and comes with
it’s own secret code that you use to enter a virtual world associated
with your plushie. It appears that the website is not yet
fully functional, with only a few features that are working. So far you can enter your animal’s
room, play a few games, accessorize your pet and sort of chat with other jellybeanie owners.
Had been rather stagnant for some time now.
KaritoKids Karito Kids are 21” dolls (6 of them to date) that
you purchase for about $100. Part
of your purchase price goes toward a charity - related to the doll’s
ethnicity/country – I think.
You are able to log in a secret code that gives you access to a virtual
world and your virtual doll. Very
new toy line and website, so I don’t know much more. Looks interesting, though.
KizPlanet
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Kookeys Kookeys is
similar to Webkinz in that you buy a plush animal and log on a code to gain
access to your virtual pet and it’s virtual
world. Since my first visit to KooLand, things have changed drastically. The Kookeys
website, now has a BuildABear feel about it. If you haven’t been in a while, I
recommend trying it out again. Much
better. I don’t know if you
have to buy a stuffed animal each year to keep your account, as in the case of
Webkinz. Still has bugs.
LegoUniverse Not up and running yet. Release date is sometime after 2009
now. How could you go wrong with
Lego, though? (Check out MyLegoNetwork
for some Lego time killing.)
LittlestPetShopVIPWorlds Littlest Pet Shop VIP Worlds is yet
another Webkinz wannabe. Buy your
pet at just about any toy or discount store, log on a secret code to gain
access to your animal’s virtual self and world. Very cute. Your pet can buy accessories, and
decorate it’s house. You can
play games to earn more money, but I haven’t found a chat yet…
Meez
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MetaPlace
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Millsberry geared towards kids,
from General Mills Foods, kid-like avatars with chatting and games. Not animated. Customizable avatars, own a house and
decorate rooms. Play games to earn millbucks to buy things like pets, food, furniture.
Mokitown Mokitown
for kids. Safety geared by
DaimlerChrysler. Animated, Habbo type world.
Chat is NOT monitored and even I was offended by some of the dialog.
Moshi
Monsters Pet adoption world. Like Tamagotchi,
only way better! Very cute and
colorful 2D graphics. Pick a
monster to adopt, then customize and care for it. A little bit of socializing, in the form
of sticky notes left at each other’s houses. These notes can be reviewed and approved
for public viewing, though. Play
thinking games to earn Rox - the local currency - to
buy food, toys and clothes.
Decorate your house. Buy a Moshi Monster cell phone charm to get a special code for
exclusive online items.
MushaBelly Cute, but minimal to
date. Buy a Mushabelly stuffed animal (Big ones are a bit expensive so
make sure it includes an online code tag, not just the trading card!) and log
on a code to gain access to games.
You get to go to
MyCoke Resembles a smaller version of VMK. Not necessarily kid friendly.
MyEPets My EPets is
almost identical to LPS VIP Worlds – another Webkinz clone.
MyTinyPlanets I believe this to be a
Neopets Cute, but not really chat related or
animated. Tons of games to
play. Think Tamagotchi
meets the internet…
Nexon MapleStory, very cute, and free for
limited play. Cash shops use
real money to buy personalized or gear.
Not only kid inhabited.
Nicktropolis By Nickledeon and Viacom.
Resembles VMK, though not as quite as big or detailed. Gets better every day!
OurWorld Gathering Information.
Pandanda
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Panfu Very cute panda avatar
online chat world. Looks
like a Club Penguin wannabe.
Papermint A
crazy looking world that is in the same style as Paper Mario, video game). No more info at this time.
Playdo From Sweden,
but can be played in English. Very
small setting and avatars, similar to Habbo Hotel
PlanetCasmo Cute little animated people that can run
around chatting and somewhat interacting with their world. Play games for money. Dress your avi. Decorate your avi’s
house. New place that looks like
it’ll be a good ‘un!
Chat is not monitored much, but you can report offenders. Fee for upgrades.
Poptropica Similar to Dizzywood in
that you perform quests or missions. Silly looking 2D cartoon characters
(similar to Rugrats) travel to different islands for
different missions (some are a little educational even). To date there are 8 different islands,
with more pending. A little bit of
advertising on the site, like Lego, Fruit Loops and Yogos. Nothing outlandish or offensive, though.
Quest
Atlantis 3D world built around
educational tasks or quests.
Chatting and socializing are available, but not the sole purpose to this
game.
ScapeNation
Justice/Limited Too – the kids’ clothes store has a new
virtual world in beta. Quests
appear to be limited to play a game to remove the dark fog from the imeediate land.
Yawn. Interesting look to
it, but it is VERY slow and the chat filter is VERY unforgiving.
ShiningStars
Shining Stars started out to be Webkinz first rival,
but doesn’t really seem to come close, IMHO. You purchase a stuffed animal, slightly
more expensive than a Webkinz, log on to the website with a secret code, and
gain access to your virtual pet, its’ world, and some games. Part of your purchase price goes towards
being able to name your very own star and supportting
a children’s charity. Great
cause, and very neat idea naming a star, but the website is very limited to
mostly just flash, arcade-type games.
You can kinda buy a home/world and decorate
it, but nowhere near the extent of Webkinz. I, personally, don’t see this one
lasting.
Sifaka A kind of Animal Kingdom virtual world. Cute, but very sparse so far. Membership required for certain aspects.
Smallworlds
In viewing this one I get the feeling of a very socially motivated MMO,
similar to VMK, but based more on the real world. Doesn’t appear to be truly geared
towards the younger crowd. It seems
to be more inviting to those in their 20’s and 30’s who might be
mate searching. Change your look,
add a cat or dog, decorate your apartment, and perform LOTS of quests that
promote socializing with the other locals.
So far it’s in beta and F2P (free to play).
SpineWorld Gathering Information.
StagecoachIsland
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SuperSecret A virtual world similar to Dizzywood, in
look and feel. Geared towards the tweens, your avatar starts life at age 10 and grows to age
16 (to date). Age is achieved by
completing quests and gaining “Age Points”. Currency is “Spenders” which
can be found by clicking various spots in a scene, by finding and completing tasks/quests,
or won by playing games that are scattered throughout the SuperSecret
world. As in real life, with age
comes new responsibilities, such as owning a pet when you turn 11 or getting
your drivers license at age 16. For
me, the upside to this site is the feature that resembles Highlights’
“Hidden Objects” in each scene/area. While the website does have menu chat,
free chat is allowable (though not well filtered) with parents’
consent. Also, the older crowd is
purportedly corralled into a separate area (server?) from the younger
kids. Appears that a free account
can only grow to age 13, while membership will allow your character to become
more mature.
Taatu
French, MMO? Gathering Information
Timik Polish only? Gathering Information
ToonTown by
Disney. Really great
adventure MMO. Your characters look
like toons, as do the “monsters”. The “fighting” is actually
pranks that you pull, such as a water-squirting flower or throwing a pie,
etc. Very non-violent. Colorful worlds and pets to gain. Many quests and lots of games to
play. Chatting is restricted to a
menu based chat. Basic game is
free, but you are limited to only a piece of the entire game. Upgrade via paid subscription to gain
access to more quests, better pets and gear and a much larger playing
field. All ages roam this one, but
it’s still very safe for the little ones. J
Tootsville
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ToppsTown Collectable cards virtual world. Contender to UpperDeckU. I haven’t checked this out, so no
information to offer.
Trollz geared towards kids and focuses on the Trollz doll/toy line.
Can message friends with premade phrases, but no real chat. Play games to earn trollerz
to buy accessories for your Trollz and her room. Doesn’t appear to be kept up, but
still fun to play every once in a while.
Tweegee
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TyGirlz Remember
Ty Beanie Babies? Same company, new
concept. Ty Girlz
look like Bratz, play online like Barbie’s
version of Webkinz, and are backed by Ty.
Not too much here that will appeal to most of the male population unless
you enjoy virtual shopping, dressing girl dolls and playing make-up
artist/costume designer. There is
also an interior designer feature and the ability to play games, but to me, the
idea appears to limit itself.
UBFunkeys Very interesting twist to this line
– you buy a starter kit that includes one large looking Funkey and two regular Funkeys. The large Funkey
plugs into your computer’s usb port. The smaller, normal Funkeys
plug into the larger one. Each Funkey separately allows you to enter UBFunkeys’
online, virtual world as that particular Funkey. Each Funkey
accesses a different part of the world and can play a game that is exclusive to
that Funkey character. Cute and relatively cheap – after
purchasing the more expensive starter kit.
UpperDeckU Collectable cards virtual world. Contender to ToppsTown. I haven’t checked this out, so no
information to offer.
Urbaniacs
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VerbNow Meant to get the kids
moving, instead of vegging in front of the TV or
computer. Based on active avatars
– those that play sports and such.
VizWoz
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VFK (
VMK
From Disney – Virtual
VMTv
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VSide
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Wakfu
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Webkinz From Ganz. Have to buy a stuffed animal, Webkinz or
Lil’ Kinz, that includes a tag with a
code. Enter code at website to
officially adopt your stuffy and enter a plush world. Play games, care for pet and build &
furnish your pet’s house.
Animated. Must be renewed
yearly with the purchase of another tangible plushy. Very cute, but addictingly
expensive. They have since come out
with heaps of “Feature Code Enclosed” accessories you can purchase,
such as clothes (for Webkinz plushes), mouse pads,
body spritz
and lip gloss (for humans – not the plushes),
bookmarks, and charms to wear on specially purchased charm bracelets and charm
necklaces.
WebbliWorld
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WebWilds
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WelloHorld
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Whirled Gathering Information
WhuddleWorld At only about a
year old, WW, shut down due to no monetary support and were searching for a
backer. Has since re-opened under
new management. It is definitely
not crowded yet, but has real potential.
Free for the basics, extras cost real money. Has a whimsical feel with characters
resembling mice people. Is not
animated and chat is in the form of personal forums/journal. The few quests I’ve enjoyed have
been craft based or hide and seek.
Very family friendly.
WhyVille
Educational online community geared towards kids. Money is earned via educational games
and can buy furnishings and more.
Wisenhimer
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Wizard101
by KingsIsle WOW. If I were to write a full review on this
one, you would be reading all day.
This is by far my favorite!
It is best described as a Harry Potter type game that lies somewhere
between Worlds of Warcraft and ToonTown. I was lucky enough to play the closed
beta and the open beta before the public launch. It is truly amazing for ANY age. Right now you can only play a VERY
limited area for free. Free play
also gets you menu chat and access to read the forums too. Paid subscription gives you access to 5
worlds (Dragonspyre is the newest – with more
worlds still promised), open chat (for over 13 or with parent’s
permission), more spells, more monsters, more items/gear, ability to read and
post in the forums, etc. Characters
play as wizards, choosing from 7 different schools of study. Each school has the ability to learn
spells from that class, plus a secondary school to completeness or a few
different classes of only basic spells.
Spells are animated and amusing to behold. It is not overly violent, relying on
spells for attacking monsters and showing no bloodshed. Battles are turn based and can
accommodate up to 4 wizards and 4 monsters at a time, ensuring that each player
gains experience and drops equal to his fellow comrades at arms. Worlds are colorful and rich with dimension
and detail. Characters can be
customized to fit most personal tastes.
And the sounds and music are likewise phenomenal. Quests are plentiful and varied. To date, I have played up through the
current last world and just below the 50 level cap. It is truly an amazing game and the ONLY
one I have even considered buying a subscription for.
Woldme
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Wonderland Very similar to Maplestory. Pay for online accessories. Download the client.
Wonderville 3D Not a chatting
community, but an educational 3D immersive world. Choose boy or girl to skateboard around
the city searching out many, great science activities. Must allow for pop ups on this site,
though.
Woogi World Cute characters. Seems to be a very child safe
environment with many parental controls/options. Aimed at the elementary kids. A bit preachy (and slow) regarding internet
safety, good citizenship, and balancing computer, family and service. Beginning missions can be reviewed, but
mini movies have to be watched in entirety again. It’s very linear in play (at least
in the beginning) and level of play difficulty can be a bit challenging for
elementary age children.
Xivio Chat based world. Cute animated humans and non
humans. One game to play with more
in the works with Xivio 2 (anticipated second
version). Change your look. Buy a room (apartment, store, school,
spaceship, whatever you can imagine) and decorate. Watch videos. Listen to mp3’s. You can earn 7 vios
(local currency) per logged in hour (15 for paying members). Or you can buy vios
and special/rare items for real money.
Tween and teen crowd seems to frequent this
one.
ZedCity
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ZibbieZone
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ZooKazoo Gathering Information
Zoopri
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Zoovolution
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http://aftermathzone.com Seems to be gone.
http://dreamville.e-games.com.my Unfortunately the “Theme
Park” has since closed, but maybe again someday…
http://kupika.com/ Not a community, but a website for finding penpals. Simplistic, but nice.
http://www.soracity.com Virtual city with
chatting avatars for your Mobile Phone. One can only hope this will go online as
well.
If you are looking for virtual pet sites like
Neopets try these:
ChibiPaws
(cute)
CreatureWorld
Eevopets?
Giropets
IgadisUniverse
KenoPets
KiroPets
MangaPets?
MaraPets
Millipets
MyLittleFairy
NeuroGalaxy
NutrinoPets
OmePets
PawPets
PowerPets
SobaPets
SorpiLand
SpielPets
StarbitsPets
SubetaPets
TeinoPets
TeriPets
Venotopia
ZetaPets
Action Allstars
Allgirlarcade
Baobao bengbeng
Bossa Nova Concepts’ Robot
World
C3L3B Digital
Cackleberries
Cars Virtual Worlds
Cartoon Doll Emporium
CC Metro
Chaotic
Chapatiz
Chuggington
ClubPonyPals
Club Time Machine
DC Hero Zone
DGamer
Dinosaur Junction
Disney’s Bunnytown
Edusim
Empire of Sports
Fashion Fanstasy
Game
FooballSuperstars
Freaky Creatures
Frenzoo
GalaXSeeds
Green.com
Handipoints
Home
Horseland.com
House by MTV
IMVU
JumpStart
Kaimira
Kabillion
KetnetKick
KidsCom.com
Kiwi Heroes
Lola’s Land
LoudCrowd
Madagascar-themed world
Magi-Nation
McDonald’s Happy Meal 3.0
Me2
MechTechs
MiniFriday
Mini Match
MinyanLand
MioPal
Monkey World
MyLife
MyMiniLife
Mystikats Kutties
Mytopia
NASA’s Education World
NFLRush
novoKing
NuNuWorld
Pixie Hollow
PlanetVTech
PowerUp
Quest Atlantis
Rocketon
The Saddle Club
Sea Pals
Second Life Teen Grid
Shidonni
SocioTown
SpongeBob SquarePants
Star In Me
Stardoll
Tamagotchi’s
Tama & Earth Expo
Tech Deck Live
There.com
Treetures
cute, but not a chat world.
Educational environment site.